Early Smartphone use linked to poorer mental health in young adults: Study
A recent research study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that individuals who received smartphones before the age of 13 reported poorer mental health outcomes in early adulthood.
One of the study’s lead authors, Tara Thiagarajan informed in a report by ABC News, “The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world.
The study analysed responses from over 100,000 individuals aged 18 to 24, who answered questions related to their mental health, including experiences of aggression, detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.
Girls who had access to smartphones at ages 5 or 6 reported higher levels of suicidal thoughts, with 48% acknowledging severe ideation, compared to 28% among those who received phones at age 13 or later.31% of boys who used phones early in their lives had these thoughts, compared to 20% of those who received phones later. The report also mentions that early phone access can result in lower self-worth, reduced emotional resilience in girls and would decreased empathy and emotional stability in boys.
Experts involved in the study cited the heightened social media use, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep patterns and strained family relationships as contributing factors, urging parents to delay smartphone access until children are at least 14 years old and advised them to engage in discussions around responsible digital behaviour.
In guidance shared by the American Academy of Pediatrics, families are encouraged to adopt a framework known as the “5 C’s” to manage children’s media use: understanding the Child, assessing Content, fostering Calm, avoiding Crowding out other activities and maintaining open Communication.
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Brazil's Ancelotti raises doubts about whether Neymar will reach the 2026 World Cup
Sao Paulo (AP): Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti raised doubts about whether Neymar will be in his squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Italian has yet to pick the former captain since he took over in May.
“If Neymar deserves to be (in the squad), if he is, well, better than others, he will play in the World Cup and that's it. (But) I don't have debts to anyone,” Ancelotti said at a press conference in Washington on Friday following the draw.
Brazil is in Group C with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
“If we speak about Neymar, we have to speak about other players,” Ancelotti added. “We have to think about Brazil with or without Neymar, with or without other players. Our final list we will make after the FIFA fixtures in March.”
The 33-year-old Neymar has never fully recovered from a torn ACL in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. But he's been key for Santos in its fight to avoid relegation in the Brazilian championship.
On Wednesday, he scored a hat trick for Santos despite a muscular injury. He is expected to play again on Sunday against Cruzeiro.
Ancelotti said Brazil does not have a “referential player” at the moment, a tag for the most valuable player that Neymar has mainly worn since the 2014 home World Cup.
“We have one of the world's best goalkeepers, some of the best defenders, top midfielders and some players up front. I don't want players who want to be the best in the world, I want players who want to win the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Asked about his team's group, Ancelotti said Brazil can top it.
“We can win all three matches, our idea is very clear. We need to be competitive during the entire World Cup. Our goal is to play in the final and for that to happen you need to face very strong teams anyway.”
Brazil won the last of its five World Cup trophies in 2002.
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